X-ray categorization and retrieval on the organ and pathology level, using patch-based visual words

In this study we present an efficient image categorization and retrieval system applied to medical image databases, in particular large radiograph archives. The methodology is based on local patch representation of the image content, using a "bag of visual words" approach. We explore the effects of various parameters on system performance, and show best results using dense sampling of simple features with spatial content, and a nonlinear kernel-based support vector machine (SVM) classifier. In a recent international competition the system was ranked first in discriminating orientation and body regions in X-ray images. In addition to organ-level discrimination, we show an application to pathology-level categorization of chest X-ray data, the most popular examination in radiology. The system discriminates between healthy and pathological cases, and is also shown to successfully identify specific pathologies in a set of chest radiographs taken from a routine hospital examination. This is a first step towards similarity-based categorization, which has a major clinical implications for computer-assisted diagnostics.     

Overview of the Plasma Science and Innovation Center (PSI – Center)

The principal goal of the Plasma Science and Innovation Center (PSI – Center) is to achieve significantly improved computational predictive capability for smaller-scale devices. This is being accomplished through the refinement of existing computational tools through adding sufficient physics modeling, boundary conditions, and geometric capabilities while benchmarking results against experimental data. The work emphasizes the modeling needs of emerging concept (EC) experiments, but improved simulation capabilities for all innovative confinement concepts (ICC) are expected. A special emphasis is placed on physics effects that may extend beyond the standard analysis applied to the mainline programs.     

Pyrimidinoceptor potentiation by ATP in NG108-15 cells

Regulation of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis by UTP and UDP in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell line NG108-15 was potentiated in the presence of ATP. The effect of ATP was dose dependent and shifted the EC50 value for these uracil nucleotides up to three powers of magnitude, having no influence on the maximal value of the response. Adenine nucleotides (ADP, AMP, adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammaS), beta,gamma-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate (betagammaMeATP), 3'-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl ATP (BzATP) and 3'-deoxyadenosine 5'-O-(1-thio)triphosphate (dATPalphaS)) as well as adenosine, had no influence on the pyrimidinoceptor response. The potentiation effect was abolished by excess of EDTA. The results were in agreement with the hypothesis of pyrimidinoceptor affinity regulation via extracellular phosphorylation of the receptor protein, initiated by ATP. This mechanism may have physiological implication for functioning of uracil nucleotides as endogenous signaling molecules.     

Postfailure reflectivity/impulsivity and spontaneous attention to errors.

We tested the idea that paying close attention to errors leads to improved performance on an inference task. We operationalized "attention to errors" as postfailure reflectivity, the ratio of the mean postfailure and post-success latencies on a self-paced inference task, where the interstimulus interval was subject controlled. Subjects were 9-, 10-, 11-, and 12-year-old children (N?=?378). Results reveal that (a) postfailure and reflectives show high cognitive performance during their initial exposure to the inference task; (b) postfailure impulsives have lower scores than postfailure reflectives on IQ, Raven, a test for attentional capacity, an arithmetic test, and teacher's evaluations in percentiles; and (c) "fast" versus "slow thinkers," as defined by J. Kagan's (1966) cognitive style construct, do not form homogeneous groups: fast–accurate children are postfailure reflective, and slow–inaccurate children are postfailure impulsive. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-term forecasting of smooth approximations to the load duration curve

This paper presents a methodology for long-term forecasting of smooth approximations to the load duration curve. The forecast results, when the approach is empirically implemented, are extremely good. Finally, while the application is limited to a functional approximation that has previously been used, there isn othing to deter its adaptation to other specifications.     

Implicit leadership theory as a determinant of the factor structure underlying supervisory behavior scales.

Examined implicit leadership theory (preconceptions about the patterning of leadership variables) in 235 college students. Ss completed the Survey of Organizations questionnnaire on a fictitious "Plant X" about which they were given little information. Factor analysis, performed on the items purported to measure 4 leadership factors, resulted in the conceptualized factor structure. Since no information was given regarding supervisory behavior in Plant X, the factor structure was attributed to an implicit leadership theory. Factor analysis on subsamples indicated the factor structure could not be attributed to either experience in organizations or previous instruction in management. It is suggested that responses to questionnaires regarding organizational variables may be contaminated by implicit theory and that multitrait-multimethod procedures may be required to validate questionnaires. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effects of intertemporal demand dependencies on optimal electrical energy pricing: An extension

The principal issue addressed in this paper deals with the price profile for a regulated public utility when demand and supply vary spatially and temporally and when demands are temporally interdependent. No simple cost based solution proves possible. Price is determined as a weighted average of marginal operating costs in all periods, capital costs in all periods, and delivery costs.The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Energy or the views of other Department of Energy staff members.     

On forecasting electric utility fossil fuel consumption

The objective of the analysis is to develop a model to forecast the consumption of fossil fuels by electric utilities on a month-to-month basis. A scheme is devised and implemented that shares out for fossil fuel generation (net of coal), the consumption of residual fuel oil, distillate fuel oil, crude oil and natural gas. A multinomial logit specification is used whereby the share of each of these fuels is a function of relative prices, weather, time, seasonal factors and extraneous influences (e.g. a coal strike). The results, when compared to actual shares, prove to be most acceptable.